L5.5.8: Tips in Remembering the Names of Muscles

• Direction of Muscle Fibers

  RECTUS

  Fibers run straight / parallel to the imaginary line

  OBLIQUE

  Fibers run obliquely / slant to the imaginary line
• Size of the Muscle

  MAXIMUS Longest

  MINIMUS Smallest

  LONGUS Long
• Number of Origins

  BICEPS 2 origins

  TRICEPS 3 origins

  QUADRICEPS 4 origins
• Location of the Muscle’s Origin & Insertion

  STERNO Origin on the sternum

  CLEIDO Origins on the clavicle
• Shape of the Muscle

  DELTOID “Triangular”, delta
• Action of the Muscle

  FLEXOR

  Decreasing the angle between 2 bones that converge at the joint

  EXTENSOR

  Increases the angle between 2 bones; “Extends:

  ADDUCTOR

  Moving the leg back towards the midline